The Day Before Today

Also known as yesterday.

1) 

We have a new niece!  

Whew, that was hard work.

Phil's sister Kelly gave birth to Lenora Pearl yesterday, and she weighed in at a whopping 9 pounds even! 

Can someone turn down the lights in this joint?

 We can't wait to meet her!!

2)

Last night we took a family walk after dinner and went to the library.  Our kids were so excited to pick out books and stop to play at the playground on the way home.  Seriously, we need to make this a weekly thing. Why haven't I taken advantage of the library more?  I think I was scared of the possible lost books and fines.

3)

Last night was the first time we turned on the AC's in the kids' rooms.  We don't have central air (it's still a rarity around here with all the old houses) so Phil hates putting the window units in, but...but...we had to wake up Maggie and Alexander this morning!  As opposed to every other morning when they wake the rest of us up before 6 am. I'm thinking it's AC all night, every night.  Or maybe just long walks after dinner.

4)

When I was headed to bed last night, I realized I hadn't seen the cat in a while.  I asked Phil if he knew where she was and he went searching.  He came back to bed saying he couldn't find her.  My (Tiger) Mother's heart knew she wasn't ok.  Then I remembered that when Phil had taken the AC units out of the crawl spaces upstairs, the doors had been left open for a bit.  And there's nothing Evie like more than small spaces to squeeze into.  So he went up to the boys' bedroom, moved sleeping Eamon's bed away from the crawl space door, opened it, and out came Evie with a yawn like she was having the best cat nap of her life. 

5)

Yesterday we watched the season finale of SNL we had recorded and were so sad to learn that Bill Hader, Seth Myers, Fred Armisen and now Jason Sudeikis are all leaving the show.  

I could barely keep watching after Kristen Wiig left, but now?  I don't think I can go on (with SNL, not with life in general).

6)

But then I remembered that Arrested Development is coming back on Sunday!  So...

He Said, She Said

These aren't super funny but it's one of those days where I wonder why I even have a blog.  So instead of posting nothing, I'll give you the following....

Me: Maggie, what happened to your lollipop?

Maggie: (Bursting into tears) I don't know what happened!  I was sucking on it in my mouth and then it got in the cat's tail!  Then the cat ran away and Dad had to chase her and wash her tail to get the lollipop unstucked and now he says I can't eat it anymore.  But I wanna eat it!!

Eamon: Xander, what do you love more, Dora or that muffin?

Xander: Dora!!!

Eamon: Mom, can I eat his muffin? He doesn't want it.

A kind soul gifted us a Shell gas card...

Me: Where is a Shell station around here?

Phil: I think that Bob's Sunoco is a Shell.

Me: I'm pretty sure it's a Sunoco.

I was on the floor stretching (picture me basically face down on the floor) after the rosary and I told the kids it was time to march to bed.  So Xander lays face down, imitating me, on the floor and says march, march, march!  Maybe you had to be there, but it made us all laugh hysterically and then Eamon says:

"He is so funny!  Without him, we would have nothing!"

John-Paul: (looking at the bruise on my arm) Mom, it's a heart!

Maggie: Did Dad give that to you for your anniversary?

7 for 11

Joining up with Jen and all the rest for 7 Quick Takes Friday, and I'm really excited because today is our 11th Wedding Anniversary!

11 years has taken it's toll...

I love love, and I love my husband so much!  Let me count the ways...

First came love, then came marriage, then came 5 babies in a baby carriage.

1)

Swoon.

Mega Millions is giving away an almost 200 million dollar jackpot today.  200 million dollars!  I told Phil that we should buy a ticket since it's our anniversary and therefore we will obviously win.  He just looked at me how he does when I get all crazy on him, and said "I won the lottery the day I married you."  He barely ever says romantic things like that, and is never fakey fakey with his words, so when words like that spill out of his mouth, I just want to kiss him!  So I do.

2)

Just another day in paradise.

Phil is the head of theology at our Catholic high school, and he loves his faith so much.  We have Mass offered at our school 3 mornings a week, and due to the timing, the person who drops off the kids at their school can make it to Mass but the person who drops off the baby to the nanny does not make it in time.  Guess who always lets me drop off the kids at school and attend daily Mass?  Guess who also always makes sure I receive Jesus first in the Eucharist?  Guess who is always the parent who says "Time for family Rosary!" in our house?  Guess who always makes sure I get to Confession regularly and if I'm acting particularly moody, suggests that we need to go soon?  Yup, that would be Phil.  

3)

Changing the world, one diaper at a time.

On Mother's Day, I saw Phil changing Alexander's stinky diaper and I said "I love Mother's Day, when I don't have to change any poopy diapers" and he replied "And that makes it different from every other day because...?"  He is so right!  I practically never change a diaper anymore.  When I used to stay at home, Phil would always take over diaper duty once he got home from work.  Now that I work and the baby is with the nanny, Phil never gave up his role, and I hardly ever change diapers anymore.  I am so spoiled!  

My heart is full.

4)

Play time!

Whenever we go to a playground, I try to sit as much as possible and let the kids play.  Of course, I'm usually following around Alexander the daredevil or pushing him in the swing so he's contained for half a minute, but not Phil.  

The heavens shone on Saint Philip.

Nope, he runs around and plays tag and makes up obstacle courses and plays Daddy-the-Monster and Don't-Touch-the-Lava and whatever other games the kids and him make up.  He is such a fun Dad, never lazy, never selfish.  

5)

There may or may not be some derriere pinching in this photo...

He's got my back for anything.  If I want to try some stupid diet, or train for a half-marathon, or move furniture around (again), he is right there, not only cheering me on, but doing it alongside me.  

Because nothing says I love you like his and hers matching sneakers.

6) 

Doing service at Gifts to Give.

Last week as we pulled into the grocery store, we saw a man who was begging on the street corner  There's almost always someone there asking for money because it's a pretty busy intersection in the city.  Anyway, on our way out of the grocery store, without me really even realizing it, Phil took cash out of his wallet and handed it to the man.  It's not a big deal, but he does things like this all.the.time.  He's jumped more battery-dead-cars than I can count, he went out in the blizzard to help a car that ran out of gas, he buys Gatorade and water to hand out to the homeless on hot summer days, he makes sure we are tithing every week at church, and he just plain old loves helping people.  

Spooning.

7)

I love you so deep, the ocean would be jealous.

Today on the anniversary of 11 years of marriage, I can honestly say that I am more in love now than ever.  I remember my mother telling me that as much as I loved Phil on our wedding day, it would only increase.  I thought she was crazy because I was so in love that my heart was about to burst, but turns out she was so right.  Love is really an amazing gift that can just keep on giving and growing.  I am so lucky to have found my best friend, married my soul mate, and become a parent with the most wonderful person I ever met.  I don't know how I got so lucky, but I'm thankful for you everyday.